GPD: Graffiti artists Ghost and Rash turned in by a friend

Police believe they have arrested the graffiti artists known as Ghost and Rash, whose tags have popped up on buildings around town in a recent uptick in graffiti across the city.

By Chad SmithStaff writer

Police this week arrested two men believed to be graffiti painters known as Ghost and Rash — two of the 16 people arrested in recent months during a Gainesville Police Department crackdown.James Preston Young, allegedly known as Ghost, was arrested on Wednesday night and Stuart Henry Coates, allegedly known as Rash, was arrested Tuesday after a friend told police they were two of the men sought by investigators.Coates, 19, and Young, 18, were both charged with criminal mischief, a third-degree felony because the damage to city property was "well over $1,000," the amount that makes the crime a felony, GPD Officer Jason Rarey wrote in his arrest report.Both were released from the Alachua County jail without having to post bond.Sgt. Mike Schentrup said investigators had closed in on the two over the last few weeks as others were arrested."They didn't seem to care because a lot of the work they've done has been in the last month," Schentrup said.For example, at the new Meadowbrook Elementary School on Northwest 39th Avenue, which is set to open in the fall, workers found graffiti from both of them that measured about 6 feet high and about 30 feet long, Schentrup said.Also, an empty car dealership near the Interstate 75 interchange with Northwest 39th Avenue was vandalized recently, officials said. The property owner cleaned it last week, and Coates defaced it again within days, Schentrup said.Others accused of spray-painting buildings include Morris Glen Sherman, 22, who police say used the tag Meeow, and Lance Miller Corbett, 18, who allegedly went by Twig."Some consider themselves artists," Schentrup said. "Some do it just because they like to write their name."In all, 16 have been arrested and two others are facing charges, he said.On Tuesday, according to the arrest report, GPD searched Coates' residence and found 49 cans of spray paint, 20 permanent markers along with "numerous images/drawings of his associated graffiti tag."Schentrup said the department has documented about 100 instances of Young's graffiti and about 30 instances of Coates'.City Manager Russ Blackburn made the issue a priority for GPD after hearing complaints about the spike in graffiti from residents, including Nathan Collier, who owns a number of apartment complexes around Gainesville."The city manager put it in the chief's ear and told him that it's important to the citizens of Gainesville," Schentrup said.